BOS NYARU MENTENG: CANDIDATE PROFILES FOR THE 24th ORANGUTAN RELEASE
Nyaru Menteng, Central Kalimantan, August 14, 2018: Following last month’s successful release of 13 orangutans, BOS Foundation’s Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Center will today return 10 more orangutans to the natural forests of the TNBBBR, Katingan District, Central Kalimantan. This release will bring the total population of rehabilitated orangutans reintroduced to the TNBBBR to 102, since the first release to this National Park two years ago, in August 2016.
The ten orangutans to be released in today’s event include three males and seven females ranging in age from 13-16 years. They will embark on a 10-12-hour journey over land and via river from Nyaru Menteng to predetermined release points in the TNBBBR.
1. PING
Ping was rescued in Petuk Bukit Village, Central Kalimantan, when she was two years old. She weighed just 4.2 kilograms at the time and had a wound on her anus. She was allegedly kept by local residents for seven days and was fed rice scraps. Ping arrived at Nyaru Menteng on March 19, 2005, and was placed in quarantine to recover.
After passing a period of quarantine, Ping joined Forest School and worked through all the levels over several years. She was moved to Bangamat Island on June 6, 2016, to enter the pre-release stage of rehabilitation. During her time on the island, Ping often covered her in-turned left eye for better visibility; but her eye condition never impacted on her activities, and she explored all over the island, sharpening her foraging skills. She liked to spend time with others and grew particularly close to Vina.
Ping is now 15 years old and weighs 34 kilograms. She has a rather long body, short dark hair, and a bump on her cheek. Ping is now ready to return to her true home in the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
2. SEMILAR
Semilar was rescued by a joint team from BOS Foundation’s Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre and the Central Kalimantan BKSDA on April 6, 2005. He was rescued together with two other orangutans, Zazu and Fortune, who have since been released to the wild. Semilar was kept as a pet for about two months by a palm-oil plantation worker in Semilar Village, East Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan, where he was locked inside a tiny wooden crate at the front of the worker’s residence. He was 2.5 years old and weighed 13 kilograms.
Semilar grew to be an avid explorer who firmly disliked human presence. After completing Forest School, he entered the pre-release stage on Bangamat Island, on March 24, 2016. He enjoyed exploring the island together with a male orangutan named Tom.
Semilar is now 16 years old and weighs 39.3 kilograms. He has a thick, orange beard, wide cheekpads, and a grumpy facial expression. He will soon gain his long-awaited freedom in the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
3. PAKU
Paku was rescued from a villager in Kasongan, Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan, on December 2, 2004. He arrived at Nyaru Menteng when he was just two years old, weighing 7.2 kilograms.
Following a period of quarantine, Paku joined Forest School and had completed all levels by 2015. He was then moved to the Socialisation Complex to wait for his turn on a pre-release island. On June 7, 2016, Paku was moved to Bangamat Island, where he befriended Pangkuy and Bungsu. He explored all over the island and liked to mingle with female orangutans.
Paku is now 16 years old and weighs 50.6 kilograms. He has long, reddish-brown hair, dark facial skin, and growing cheekpads. After a long rehabilitation process, Paku is more than ready to return to his true home of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
4. VINA
Vina was rescued from a local resident of Palangka Raya, who had allegedly kept her captive for two weeks. She came to Nyaru Menteng on December 20, 2004, when she was just four months old, with a weight of 1.7 kilograms.
After completing quarantine, Vina joined Forest School and worked well through every level. On June 6, 2016, she entered the pre-release stage of rehabilitation and was moved to Bangamat Island, where she met her best friend, Ping. Vina loved to explore the island and preferred to avoid humans.
Vina is now 14 years old and weighs 27.8 kilograms. She has a tiny face covered in thick, long hair, with thin hair on the top of her head. After years of rehabilitation at Nyaru Menteng, it is now time for Vina to live wild and free in the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
5. DINA
Dina was rescued by a joint team from the Central Kalimantan BKSDA and BOS Foundation’s Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, on June 13, 2006. She had been kept as a pet for six months by a local resident of Tarantang River area, Mantangai Village, Kapuas Regency. Dina was brought to Nyaru Menteng when she was two years old and weighed 4.5 kilograms; she had burns to her right arm.
Dina received medical treatment and underwent a period of quarantine prior to joining Forest School. On May 19, 2014, and after completing Forest School, she advanced to the pre-release stage of rehabilitation on Palas Island. There, Dina developed her wild behaviours, avoided humans, and honed her foraging skills. She continued to socialize with other orangutans.
Dina is now 14 years old and weighs 34.3 kilograms. Armed with a solid skillset and natural behaviours, Dina is well-prepared to live wild and free in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park with her peers.
6. NIKITA
Nikita was rescued from a resident of Palangka Raya City on May 28, 2008. At the time, she was just 2.5 years old and weighed 9 kilograms.
After passing quarantine, Nikita joined Forest School and diligently worked through every level. On March 19, 2014, she continued her rehabilitation journey on pre-release Palas Island. There, she was mostly friendly and gentle toward others, but could absolutely defend herself when required.
Nikita is now 13 years old and weighs 37 kilograms. She has long-and-thick dark-brown hair, and a round face: At a quick glance, she looks like a male orangutan. After 10 years of rehabilitation, Nikita is ready to go back to the natural forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
7. ASAPA
Asapa was rescued by a joint team from the BOS Foundation and the Central Kalimantan BKSDA, in the city of Kuala Kapuas, Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan. She had been kept as a pet for two days. She arrived at BOS Foundation’s Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre on August 20, 2003, when she was only nine months old and weighed 1.8 kilograms.
At Nyaru Menteng, Asapa passed quarantine before joining Forest School. She completed every stage of Forest School and was moved to Bangamat Island on June 6, 2016. During her time on the island, she further developed her natural skills and became a very active individual.
Asapa is now 16 years old and weighs 37.2 kilograms. Soon, this attractive female will return to her true home in the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
8. EROPA
Eropa was rescued from a palm-oil worker in Lintang village, East Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan, on October 1, 2005. She came to Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre when she was two years old and weighed 5.5 kilograms. She was named Eropa (‘Europe’ in Indonesian) for her light-coloured, blondie hair.
Eropa passed all levels of Forest School before finally moving to pre-release Bangamat Island on March 24, 2016. On Bangamat, Eropa avoided humans as much as possible, and honed her natural skills and behaviours to become one of the best explorers on the island.
Eropa is now 15 years old and weighs 36.1 kilograms. This attractive female with round, sad-looking eyes is now ready to explore the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park as a true, wild orangutan.
9. NODY
Nody was rescued from a palm-oil worker in Tumbang Samba Village, Katingan, Central Kalimantan, who had allegedly held him captive for several days. He arrived at BOS Foundation’s Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre on November 9, 2007, when he was 2 years old, weighing 3.3 kilograms and suffering hypothermia.
Nody managed to pass quarantine and went on to complete every stage of Forest School. On March 25, 2014, he was moved to Palas Island to begin the pre-release stage of rehabilitation. There, Nody diligently honed his forest skills and grew to be an avid explorer who firmly disliked human presence.
Nody is now 13 years old and weighs 32.9 kilograms. He has a stocky build and beard, and is growing cheekpads. With a sound skillset and developed natural behaviours, Nody is more than ready to live as a wild orangutan in his new home, the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
10. HANYU
Hanyu was rescued by a joint team from BOS Foundation Nyaru Menteng and the Central Kalimantan BKSDA, in an area near the Hanyu River, Kapuas Regency, on August 14, 2007. She arrived at Nyaru Menteng when she was just 1.5 years old, weighing 3.1 kilograms.
At Nyaru Menteng, Hanyu joined Forest School with her peers and progressed to the pre-release stage on Palas Island on March 19, 2014. She was later moved to Bangamat Island, on April 8, 2017. On both islands, Hanyu was quite social with other orangutans but avoided humans. She grew to become a dominant figure with great foraging skills.
Hanyu is now 13 years old and weighs 46.7 kilograms. She is quite large for her age and has long, thick hair, with a long beard on her round face. Her years of rehabilitation, and the valuable experiences she gained from being on two pre-release islands, has prepared Hanyu for an adventurous life in the forests of the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park.
Text by: BOS Foundation Communication Team
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